USM’s Ito Smith assuming leadership role

For the last four years, one of the strongest voices in the Southern Miss locker room has been that of Nick Mullens. Following his graduation, leadership will have to become a collective effort, starting with the seniors.
Perhaps the most important upper classman on the USM roster is senior running back Ito Smith. He’s never been much a talker, but during his first three seasons in Hattiesburg he’s let his play speak for itself.
Always a versatile playmaker, Smith went off in 2016, pacing the Golden Eagles in scoring with 19 total touchdowns and more than 1900 yards from scrimmage.
His encore performance as a senior will also require a larger vocal presence beginning on day one of fall camp Wednesday. “I haven’t really thought of it like as far as this is about to be my last season, but I have, but I’ve just been working hard. Doing the same stuff I’ve been doing since I got here. Just being a leader to the younger guys. Just the seniors, us stepping up, being leaders. Nick was a great leader, we’ll miss him, but we’ve got to keep going. It’s a new year, a new team, we’ve got to figure it out,” said Smith.
Smith has scored at least one touchdown in 17 out of his last 18 games. The Black and Gold report for their first practice of the fall tomorrow morning.